IDAHO, USA — There was a showdown at the statehouse that has been building for more than three months. It wasn't quite OK Corral caliber, but a square off between both chambers and both branches of government at the capitol. It involves HB 521, which would address aging public school infrastructure and modernization.
On Thursday, Mar. 22, the Idaho Senate stepped forward and said, "I'll be your huckleberry," after the bill sat idle on the Senate calendar for weeks. HB 521 is the legislation for the historic $2 million, 10-year plan Governor Little laid out in his State of the State Address on Jan. 8.
This legislation would finally fulfill the state's constitutional duty to maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools. Article nine section 1, states the legislature is required to fund public schools, and that includes facilities.
Something the state has been told it was not doing by the State Supreme Court decades ago.
So why has it taken so long?
Well, KTVB was being told behind the scenes it was being held hostage for other legislation to get a look, but it seems time was finally on the side of schools.
HB 521 faced its final legislative hurdle, to pass the Senate floor. Several senators had an issue with the size of the bill. Others were concerned with timing.
Senator Carl Bjerke (R) said his worry was with the bill dictating how many days a week a school was in session, and certain funding mechanisms. He still voted to pass the legislation.
Most lawmakers voted the same, in spite of pointing out the bills problems.
HB 521 passed the Senate 23-11 and is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law.
Governor Little celebrated the Senate win.
"Thank you and congratulations," the governor said, "for supporting this historic investment in the education and future of Idaho children. Together, we delivered. Together, we secured the largest-ever investment in school facilities funding in state history while giving families back more of their hard-earned money with property and income tax relief."
There are still four Senate trailer bills linked to HB 521 that would address the four or five day school week requirement, could put a cap of $100 million on distribution per district and delay the funding for another fiscal year.
Those may or may not get a hearing, and they could fix some of the issues brought up today on the Senate floor. The 2024 legislative session is scheduled to finish in a week.
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